Walter made no reply to this; he merely went on with his story: "Then the decision came. There was proof sufficient for the case to be presented before the grand jury, and unless bail could be found to the amount of one thousand dollars, my father must go to jail, there to await his trial at the county court, which would hold its next session in three weeks. When the decision was made known, my father pressed his hands tightly over his heart for a moment, and then he clasped them to his ears as the deep stillness in the room was broken by the plaintive cry: "’Save my husband, somebody. Oh, save my darling husband!’ "The next moment my mother fell at his feet, a crushed, lifeless thing, her hair falling down her face and a blue, pinched look about her lips, while my father bent over her, his tears falling like rain upon her face. Everybody cried, and when the question was asked, ’Who will go the prisoner’s bail?’ your father answered aloud: "’I will.’" "Oh, I am so glad!" gasped Jessie, while Walter continued: "With Mr. Graham for security, they let my poor father go home; but a mighty blow had fallen upon him, benumbing all his faculties; he could neither think, nor talk, nor act, but would sit all day with mother’s hands in his, gazing into her face and whispering sometimes: "’What will my darling do when I am in State prison?’ "Such would be his fate, everybody said. It could not be avoided, and in a kind of feverish despair he waited the result. Your father was with him often, ’keeping watch,’ the villagers said; but if so, he was not vigilant enough, for one dark, stormy night, the last before the dreadful sitting of the court, when the wind roared and howled about the old farm-house, and the heavy autumnal rain beat against the windows, my father drew his favorite chair, the one which always stands in that dark corner, and which none save you has ever used since then, he drew it, I say, to my mother’s side, and winding his arms about her neck, he said: "’Ellen, do you believe me guilty?’ "’No, never for a moment,’ she replied, and he continued: "’Heaven bless you, precious one, for that. Teach our child to think the same, and give it a father’s blessing.’ "My mother was too much bewildered to answer, and with a kiss upon her lips, my father turned to his father and standing up before him, said: "’I know what’s in your heart; but, father, I swear to you that I am innocent. Bless me, father—bless your only boy once more.’ "Then grandpa put his trembling hand upon the brown locks of his son and said: "’I would lay down my life to know that you are not guilty; but I bless you all the same, and may God bless you too, my boy!’ "In the bedroom grandmother lay sick, and kneeling by her side, my father said to her: "’Do you believe I did it?’ "’No,’ she answered faintly, and without his asking it, she gave him her blessing.